"???"
Shang Lu was completely baffled.
Only after Qiao Li had left did Shang Lu finally tuck away his usual cocky attitude and sit quietly across from the man like a scolded child.
The air hung heavy with silence.
After a long moment, Shang Yu braced his hands on his knees and rose from the stone table, looking down at Shang Lu from above. His tone was low and commanding.
"You'll explain the broken engagement to the Li family yourself. Even if you've got your reasons, you owe them a proper explanation."
Shang Lu straightened his back and replied listlessly, "Got it…"
With that, Shang Yu turned and began to walk down the garden steps.
But just as he stepped off the first one, he paused.
Turning slightly, his voice cut through the air—clear and sharp.
"Did you touch her?"
Shang Lu frantically shook his head.
"Touch her? No way! Just standing too close made my skin crawl, let alone laying a finger on her."
It wasn't just dislike. He had a condition—he couldn't physically stand to touch women. It had been that way since childhood, only getting worse with age. Now, even brief contact made him nauseous.
At that answer, a subtle flicker passed through Shang Yu's narrowed eyes.
His thin lips pressed together slightly, as if the answer pleased him—or confirmed something.
"Big bro, about the engagement… when I go to the Li family, are you coming with me?"
Shang Lu called out to his brother's retreating back, craning his neck hopefully.
But all he got was a cold, clipped reply—
"Handle it yourself."
…
One hour later, at the Li family estate in Nanyang.
Located in a luxury villa district on South China Road, the Li family estate was exquisitely designed both inside and out. Surrounded by manicured gardens and lush greenery, the residence had the quiet elegance of a secluded retreat far from the chaos of the world.
Yet despite the serene beauty outside, the atmosphere in the Li family's living room was heavy and stifling.
Li Guangming, the richest man in Nanyang and patriarch of the Li family, sat alone in an armchair, his chest heaving with restrained fury. Though he was in his fifties and streaks of gray touched his temples, he still carried himself with refined elegance. The sharpness in his eyes revealed a calm honed by years of power—yet even in his anger, he didn't lose his composure.
"That damn Shang brat! This is outrageous!"
Grinding his teeth, Li Guangming's gaze landed on the celadon teacup on the table. His fingers twitched with the urge to smash it to vent his fury.
Li Qiao, lounging lazily across from him with her legs crossed, seemed to sense his intent. Her voice was unhurried as she offered a gentle reminder,
"Dad, it was Shang Lu who broke off the engagement. Not the teacup I bought."
That celadon teacup had cost her three million at a charity auction. It would be a shame to break it just for a tantrum.
The fire in Li Guangming's eyes dimmed a little. He looked at his daughter, brushed his fingers through his hair, and softened his tone, "Qiaoqiao, what happened today is your second brother's fault. You've been wronged."
By the window, Li Yan stood silently, effectively grounded.
"…What?"
"Dad, how is this my fault?"
Li Yan looked aggrieved but didn't dare argue too much. After all, his precious little sister had been humiliated, and as her brother, he bore responsibility.
He'd nearly lost it when he heard what Shang Lu said—right there in the private gallery at the hotel, he almost asked their third brother to borrow a gun and put an end to that bastard.
How dare that Shang punk insult their baby sister?!
Li Guangming turned his gaze on Li Yan, full of disdain. "How is it not your fault? I told you to take Qiaoqiao to meet Shang Lu, not to dump her and disappear. What kind of brother are you? If it had been your older or younger brother, neither of them would have left her side for a second!"
Li Yan deflated like a balloon. He blinked a few times but said nothing.
Li Qiao glanced at her second brother getting scolded and sighed softly. She tried to speak up for him,
"Dad, it's not Second Brother's fault. I chose to—"
"Qiaoqiao, don't defend him. You know what he's like. He sees a famous painting and forgets the world. All talent, no sense!
But don't worry—your dad won't let this slide. I'll get your big brother, your third brother, and your mom back immediately. That Shang Lu kid—our Li family isn't done with him yet!"
Li Yan, the art-dealing genius who was now getting flamed: "…"
And so, under the orders of Li Guangming, head of the family, the eldest son, Li Jun, ditched an international meeting and rushed back from overseas; the third son, Li Cheng, canceled an order from a border deal and returned from the frontier; and Madam Duan Shuyuan, the matriarch of the Li family, walked out of a Paris fashion show halfway through.
Their precious girl had been bullied—how could they possibly let that go?